Many of today’s most prevalent health issues …. trace back to …. the food we eat. The leading cause of death in the U.S. is heart disease, a condition closely linked to diet which claims one out of every six U.S. dollars spent on healthcare.
But scientists believe a brighter future is possible: Using an innovative technology known as gene editing …. labs are able to improve the nutritional content and safety of some of today’s most prevalent crops.
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“Most Americans get much more protein than they need, too many added sugars, too much saturated fat and not enough complex carbohydrates in the form of fiber-rich foods,” said Dr. John Swartzberg, professor at University of California, Berkeley School of
Public Health …. [But] what if we could improve the nutritional value and quality of foods people already eat every day?
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[G]ene editing emerged as a new way to improve the durability and nutritional value of crops. New technologies, such as TALEN and CRISPR, enable scientists to add, alter or delete genetic material in a plant, increasing the amount of fiber, vitamins or “good oils”that naturally exist in the crop ….
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According to Jon Entine, founder of the Genetic Literacy Project … the price of gene editing—a tiny fraction of the cost of traditional genetic modification… enables small companies to compete alongside agricultural giants, which could result in more diverse products and a faster development.
Read full, original article: A HEALTHIER TOMORROW
